Can You Get a Bachelor's Degree Online?

The growth of the internet in the early 2000s helped create opportunities for colleges to offer online degree programs and expand their reach to nontraditional students. Today, 80 percent of adults responding to a survey by Champlain University said they would include online programs in their search for a school [1].

If you're looking for a degree program that's more affordable than attending in person, want to earn a degree from a school in another part of the country, or need classes that fit your schedule, you're in good company. More than half of the students attending an online college in 2023 considered the school's reputation, tuition, degree options, and time requirements when selecting an online school [2].

The popularity of online bachelor's degree programs is a growing trend, and analysts expect demand to continue increasing. Read on to explore online degree options and how fast you can get a bachelor's degree online.

Benefits of online degree programs

Online degree programs are popular because they are convenient for students who cannot attend class during traditional hours. You can log in from home, the office, a coffee shop, or anywhere you can concentrate on your studies—as long as you have access to the internet. This allows you to fit your schoolwork around your schedule.

Many schools support online students through academic advisors and enrollment coaches, which can be helpful when navigating the online platform and choosing which courses to take next. Because online degree programs often cater to working adults, the degrees offered may integrate with your current career or give you credit for work experience related to the degree.

How fast can you get a bachelor's degree online?

To earn a bachelor's degree, you typically need at least 120 credit hours, which usually takes two to six years to complete. If you have credits to transfer from another school or attend a program that accepts work experience, professional certifications, or passing exam scores for credit, you may be able to complete a bachelor's degree in two years.

What types of bachelor's degrees can you get online?

You may notice that schools offer some degree programs for face-to-face students that are unavailable online. This is because some programs require in-person contact to develop or practice skills. For example, the University of Florida has an online nursing degree. Still, you must be a registered nurse to qualify because you can practice skills like inserting an IV remotely. The school also offers a degree in fire emergency services, but you do not learn the skills needed to be a firefighter. This program is designed for people who want to manage an emergency services department. 

10 online degree programs that offer bachelor's degrees

The following list highlights some well-known online degree programs in the United States. All of the schools below accept international students.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University offers over 160 online bachelor's degree programs, including majors like applied leadership, business, data science, and information technology [3]. Degree options include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of science in engineering, bachelor of fine arts, and more. Tuition starts around $8,300 per year if you attend part-time and $16,500 if you opt for a full-time schedule—about $66,000 over the course of four years [4]. You also may qualify for financial aid to help cover some expenses.

2. Southern New Hampshire University

At Southern New Hampshire University, you can choose from over 150 bachelor's degree programs in business administration, computer science, accounting, and more [5]. The school also accepts transfer credits, so you can get credit for courses you've already taken at other schools—and you may receive credit for relevant work experience in some degree programs. Tuition is around $10,000 per year if you take a full course load (30 credits), which is around $40,000 for a four-year program [6]. You may be eligible for a reduced rate if you're an active duty member of the military or a current student at a school in the New Hampshire Community College System [6].

3. WGU

WGU has around 30 online bachelor's degree programs, with majors in business, information technology, health, and education [7]. You can earn a degree in marketing, finance, IT management, health information management, and more. What sets WGU apart from other online degree programs is the structure of the programs and tuition. You pay a flat rate of around $8,000 per year and can complete as many courses as you want during that term [8]. This means earning a degree faster and paying less money than you would at other schools is possible. You may even qualify for a scholarship for additional savings.

4. Penn State World Campus

You can earn a degree in accounting, biobehavioral health, microbiology, and more through the Penn State World Campus. The school offers 41 undergraduate degree programs culminating in a bachelor of science or arts degree [9]. Tuition for undergraduate degree programs varies, depending on the number of credit hours you take, and the total cost should range from $75,120 to $80,520 [10]. The rate shifts to a flat fee plus the per-credit fee if you take more than 19 credits during a term [10].

5. University of Florida

The University of Florida's online program has 24 majors, including a top-rated online bachelor's degree in business [11]. You can earn a bachelor of science or arts in biology, digital arts and sciences, psychology, and public relations. As an online student, you still have access to amenities like the school's career service center to help you pursue employment after you complete the degree. You'll pay just over $129 per credit hour, which adds up to around $15,500 for a degree that requires 120 credit hours [12]. Florida residents receive a tuition discount, and the school offers financial aid.

6. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League school and home to the respected Wharton School. You can earn a bachelor of applied arts and sciences online and choose a concentration in the following areas: data analytics and psychological sciences, creative studies, data analytics, and social sciences, leadership and communication, literature, organizational studies, and physical and life sciences. The school also offers an individualized studies concentration to customize your education. You can expect to pay around $7,700 per credit hour, or between $75,120 and $80,520 for a complete degree program [13].

7. Northwestern School of Professional Studies

Through the Northwestern School of Professional Studies, you can pursue a bachelor's degree in enterprise leadership, information systems, social sciences, health sciences, or strategic communication. You can transfer previous coursework from other schools—up to half of the courses required for the degree—to save time and money. Tuition is $2,179 per unit, and degree programs typically require between 42 and 45 units [14, 15]. This totals around $90,000 for a complete degree if you don't transfer credits. However, you may qualify for scholarships to help with costs.

8. LSU Online

Part of Louisiana State University's network of schools, LSU Online gives you access to more than 50 bachelor's degree programs [16]. You can earn a bachelor of science, arts, or general studies degree in majors like health care administration, business analytics, mathematics, human resource management, and more. Tuition varies, depending on the program you plan to pursue. For example, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing costs $301 per credit hour ($36,120 over four years), but you'll pay $399 per credit hour if you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Decision Sciences ($47,880 over four years) [17, 18].

9. University of Massachusetts Global

At the University of Massachusetts Global campus, you can earn a bachelor's degree in one of 16 areas like business, information technology, psychology, and legal studies [19]. The school also offers 33 concentrations within these degree programs [19]. Like other schools on this list, the University of Massachusetts Global accepts transfer credits from other colleges and may give you credit for work you've done in your career, the military, or industry certifications. For example, you may receive credit for the Data Encryptions and Information Security or Information System Security courses if you've earned the Certified Ethical Hacker designation. The school charges $500 per credit hour, which equals around $60,000 for a 120-credit hour degree [20].

10. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has three bachelor's degree programs: Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability, and Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Professional Education [21]. Tuition runs from $424 to $1,137 per credit hour, for a total of $50,880 to $136,440 for a complete degree [22, 23]. If you choose the early childhood education degree program, you can apply for a scholarship through the Illinois Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship.

Tips for choosing an online degree program

Knowing the type of degree you want, how you plan to use it, and how you plan to pay for it is helpful in finding the right online degree program for you. Keep in mind these tips as you explore your options:

• Look for an accredited school.

• Choose a school that offers the degree and major you want.

• Ask the school if all the courses for the degree are available online. Some schools offer hybrid degrees that require you to attend classes or workshops in person.

• Learn more about course pacing. You may be allowed to work at your own pace for some courses, while others may have strict timelines governing when you can work on coursework.

• Compare tuition rates and find out if the school charges additional fees.

• Explore financial aid options for online degree programs.

• Find out what support services the school provides online students, including academic support, tutoring, and career placement.

Get started today.

You can start working toward an online bachelor's degree today. Check out the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree program from the University of North Texas or the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Management and Policy from the University of Maryland Global Campus. These degree programs are completely online, so you can earn your degree when and where it's convenient. You can find these degrees and more on Coursera.